Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Calamba lone district created, Aklan province divided into 2

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law two bills creating the lone legislative district of Calamba City in Laguna and dividing Aklan into two legislative districts.

Republic Act 11078, which Duterte signed on September 24, separated Calamba City from the second legislative district of Laguna.

Under the law, the incumbent representative of the second district of Laguna will continue to represent the new district until the new representative have been duly elected and qualified.

The Commission on Elections was tasked to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the measure within 30 days from the effectivity of the two laws.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said the creation of the new legislative district of Calamba City would “focus on the needs of its constituents and bring them to the national government’s attention.”

“In consideration of the size and continued progress of the city, it is only right that we give them proper representation in the national government,” added Angara, who heads the Senate Committee on Local Government.

He pointed out that under the 1987 Constitution, “each city with a population of at least 250,000 shall have at least one representative” in Congress.

A 2015 census data showed the second legislative district of Laguna has 937,282 residents, almost half or 454,486 come from Calamba City, according to Angara.

Duterte also signed Republic Act 11077 on the same day creating the first district of Aklan composed of the towns of Altavas, Balete, Banga, Batan, Kalibo, New Washington, Libecao and Madalag.

The second district will complete the rest of Aklan towns–Buruanga, Ibajay, Lezo, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and Tangalan.

Aklan Rep. Carlito Marquez will continue to represent the legislative district until new representatives will be elected.

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 7522 last May 28 authored by Marquez and passed by the Senate on August 28, 2018.

With a report from Ralph U. Villanueva

https://www.manilatimes.net/calamba-lone-district-created-aklan-province-divided-into-2/445197/

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